David Stanton, the junior minister for equality, immigration, and integration, said that details of a new strategy for integrating migrants into Irish society will be published in the autumn.

Stanton, speaking at the National Annual Convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, said that the Department of Justice was still working on its new migrant integration strategy. He described the work on the new strategy as “very advanced”.

In his address, Stanton said that he believed it is “important for politicians from all parties, and other leaders in our community, to engage in a meaningful and open way with the representatives of the various communities from which the fabric of Irish society is now woven”.

The Muslim community in Ireland, he said, has grown substantially over the last number of years. He said that Census 2016 would likely show an increase in the 49,204 people identifying as Muslim in 2011.

“The Muslim faith is the third largest religious group in the State, behind the Catholic and Church of Ireland faiths,” Stanton said.